Thursday, February 23, 2006

Turner South, a regional cable network for outlets in the southeast, has now been sold to Fox. Turner South airs classic movies, sports (Braves, Hawks and Thrasher games), original programming, and some series as well (Major Dad, In the Heat of the Night). But now Fox has bought the channel and has plans to create it to an all-sports channel. They could treat it like a "Fox Sports Net" channel. While I am a sports fan, I don't like this because shows like Major Dad are rare to find these days.

As I mentioned, Fox could convert Turner South into an all-sports network by dropping its other programming, but regardless, the second channel gives Fox the opportunity to purchase more regional sports. Fox operates two separate regional sports networks in L.A. and now could have two in the southeast.In a statement, TBS Inc. CEO Phil Kent called the sale “a win for Turner Broadcasting and for viewers of the Fox Cable Networks. It creates significant financial return for our company, adds quality programming to Fox’s portfolio and enhances the value for consumers of a popular cable service.”

OK, now for the sitcom story. As I mentioned last week, Evening Shade is now on CMT. But starting maybe next week (March 1) we might get another sitcom. They have not officially announced it yet but I have a strong feeling we will get another sitcom on CMT. Right now Evening Shade airs 6-7am, 1-2pm and 11p-12a. The 6:00am, 1:30pm and 11:00pm slot as of March 1 is now listed as "TBD 30 Minutes." That has to be a sitcom. What else could lead-in or lead-out of Evening Shade? We hope to have news on this VERY soon. So come on back.Also, if that is not all, we have another cable network that now lists a "TBD" (stands for To Be Determined, if anyone didn't know) block. ABC Family Channel released their April line-up to us last week and we didn't post it right away because we saw that TBD slot. The TBD slot is listed for 12 noon and 12:30 p.m. The current occupant of that slot is Full House. Full House will slide over to 11 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. starting April 3, and Step by Step will move from 11:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. starting April 3. So what will air at noon and 12:30 p.m.? We just don't know yet, but indication again is it could be a sitcom. Hopefully a sitcom that doesn't air on that channel right now. Maybe Perfect Strangers? Hangin' With Mr. Cooper? Or the return of Growing Pains? We will let you know as soon as we know!And finally, in local channel news, a Webster marathon is in the works for Chicago's ME-TV. It has not been confirmed yet, but all indications list March 7 as the date. As soon as we have full details we will let you know on the pint-sized kid's return! We just hope that show returns nationally sometime soon, too (and DVD--come on Paramount!).

The Middle - "The Setup" (ABC, 8:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Frankie is tasked with being at her mom Pat’s (Marsha Mason) beck and call when she has to stay for a few days at the Heck house after coming down with an ailment. Meanwhile, just when it looks like Sean is about to ask Sue out on a date, Sue nervously blurts out that maybe they should both try to set each other up on a date with one of their friends; and Axl and Brick ponder what it is exactly that Mike does at the quarry.

The Middle - "Eyes Wide Open" (ABC, 8:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Axl heads to Chicago to visit Hutch for the weekend but discovers that his friend, who has his own apartment and a job, is now acting more like a responsible adult than the free-spirited college student he once knew. Meanwhile, Sue’s excitement over having the apartment to herself over the weekend turns to horror when she is unable to sleep after watching “Silence of the Lambs”; and Brick enlists Frankie and Mike’s aid to help convince Lilah, a new student who doesn’t know anyone at school yet, that she and Brick would make a cute couple.

black-ish - "Please Don't Feed the Animals" (ABC, 9:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Bow keeps in touch with Dre’s incarcerated godbrother, Omar, but when they find out he is being released from prison, Omar’s future sparks debate. Meanwhile, Ruby lets it slip to the kids that she’s been to jail and they push her to tell them more secrets from her past.

black-ish - "Charity Case" (ABC, 9:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Dre is chosen to lead Stevens & Lido’s new charity campaign which helps people give back to their community. When Bow advises Dre that there is more to giving back than cutting checks, he decides to donate some of his clothes to a man in need. Meanwhile, Junior fails his driving test, so Ruby offers to chaperone a trip with him and the twins on an informative outing.

Nicky, Ricky, Dicky & Dawn - "The Harper Quad-Jobbers" (Nickelodeon, 8:30PM ET/PT)
The quads try to earn money for a pool so that their house can be the place everyone wants to hang out at during the summer.

Sam Rockwell (F Is for Family) - Watch Sam on a repeat of Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.

Laura Benanti (The Detour/Go On/Starved) - Laura appears on a repeat of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.

Tiffani Thiessen (Alexa & Katie/Good Morning, Miami/Saved by the Bell/Saved by the Bell: The College Years) - Tiffani chats on The Talk on CBS at 2pm ET/1pm CT-PT.

Holly Robinson Peete (Hangin' with Mr. Cooper/For Your Love) - Holly and her husband Rodney talk about the Hallmark Channel original series Meet the Peetes on Home & Family on Hallmark Channel at 10am ET/PT.